July 15 – RESCHEDULED Community Celebration

UPDATE – Unfortunately rain has once again cancelled this event. We’ll see you next year!

July 2 festival events have been rescheduled for July 15, 2023, form 5-7pm in Ivey Park.

July 15, 2023
5-7pm, Ivey Park, 331 Thames St

FREE! but donations are gratefully accepted

5-7pm Featuring: Dance Mob WORKSHOP & Performance, Flamenco del Sur & Los Aires, Forest City Hawaiian Dance Co., Meghan Byloo + Gwen Logan + Jenna Hills, Rising Moon Bellydance, BRDRless Dance WORKSHOP

Learn more here

LDF 2023 is almost here!

DISCLAIMER- Due to heavy rain and thunderstorms, today’s event is postponed. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience and support, please stay tuned for updates as we look to reschedule today’s performances.

Celebrate the art of dance with the London Dance Festival. We’ve got something for everyone! See London’s talented dance artists perform on two stages in the great outdoors, plus workshops for all levels, opportunities for the public to perform in our Dance Mob!

Learn a new style in one of our workshops, or learn the Dance Mob moves and join us onstage. This year’s song is “Forest City” by the Latin Roots Band, in partnership with Simple Reflections for Artists.

All events are FREE (but donations are gratefully accepted!)

June 30 LDF at Heritage Night Market @ Dundas Place

7-7:30 Brazilian Forro WORKSHOP with deFlow Dance’s Clarissa & Diogo (King & Talbot)
7:30-8pm Dance Mob WORKSHOP with Brandon Clarke (King & Talbot)

8:30-9pm LDF Preview performance (Dundas & Talbot)
Featuring: Forest City Dance Mob Performance, Syncopate Tap Co, BRDRless Dance, Lorena & Erika Pabon, and La Compagnie de Danse

Read more about June 30 here

July 2Community Celebration @ Ivey Park

DISCLAIMER- Due to heavy rain and thunderstorms, today’s event is postponed. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience and support, please stay tuned for updates as we look to reschedule today’s performances.

4-5pm Featuring: Dance Mob WORKSHOP & Performance, Young Company of NLDC, Flamenco del Sur & Los Aires 

5-6pm Featuring: The Ukwehuwe Connection: Smoke Dance WORKSHOP & Hoop Performance, All 4 One Dance Co, Young Company of NLDC, Forest City Hawaiian Dance Co.

6-7pm Featuring: Shivani Joshi, Meghan Byloo + Gwen Logan + Jenna Hills, Young Company of NLDC, Aiyana Ruel, All 4 One Dance Co, Abbey Richens, Larkin Schering, South Dance

7-8pm Rising Moon Bellydance, Belle Pointe Dance & Movement Co, South Dance, BRDRless Dance Bollywood WORKSHOP

PLUS: Live Music by Los Aires Flamenco Ensemble and Light of the East Ensemble, Chalk Art Dance Map, Zen’Za Pizza, Raffle Prizes

Read more about July 2 here

Dance Mob @ Latin Street Party

Join the London Dance Festival at the first-ever FCLMA Latin Street Party!

Come out and jam with us at the FCLMA’s Latin Street Party on June 15 from 6-9pm. We’ll have a LDF Dance Community tent set up and would be happy to share any promo material London artists want to drop off!

Dance Mob
At 8:30pm there will be a Dance Mob performance to Latin Roots of London band’s song “Forest City”. Learn the dance here or stop by the tent for a quick lesson. There will be live music by local Latin artists plus food and dancing – you don’t want to miss it!

About the event

On Thursday, June 15, for the first time, London Music Week will feature a Latin Street Party featuring local Latino artists. If you enjoy live music, dancing and great food, you won’t want to miss this.

2023 is also the first year that the Forest City London Music Awards will present a Latin Music Award (June 11, Aeolian Hall). Meet the nominees and the award winner at the Latin Street Party on June 15 in front of Che Restobar on Dundas St. between Wellington and Clarence.

The Latin Street Party will host a lineup of exceptional London artists with roots in various Latin American countries, including award nominees Daubian Oliveria (Brazil), Ana De Mexico, David Rayo (Nicaragua), Big Lou (St. Marten), Gianny Correa (Cuba), J-David (Colombia), Antonio Alas Mariachi Band (El Salvador), Freddy Almarzo (Venezuela) and DJ Renzo (Colombia). A lineup of emerging artists will also perform, including the duo ‘SUYAI’ from Chile, who are new to London but have been performing interpretations of Chilean and Latin American folklore internationally since 2009. Each artist will bring their own unique musical style, creating an energetic and unforgettable evening of Latin rhythms and dance.

Learn more on the FB event page

July 2: Community Celebration- Workshops and Performance

DISCLAIMER- Due to heavy rain and thunderstorms, today’s event is postponed. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience and support, please stay tuned for updates as we look to reschedule today’s performances.

Performances by London dance artists including The Ukwehuwe Connection, Rising Moon Bellydance, La Compagnie de Danse, Flamenco del Sur, Young Company of North London Dance Centre, and more!

Learn a new style in one of our workshops, or learn the Dance Mob moves and join us onstage. This year’s song is “Forest City” by the Latin Roots Band.

All events are FREE (but donations are gratefully accepted!) Learn more at www.londondancefestival.ca.

Video by Julie Mytka, 2022 Dance Mob Performance

LDF 2023: Call to ALL Dance Artists

Photo by Jason Sunio.

We are encouraging all local dance artists to send their submissions for this year’s festival, taking place between June 30-July 2. Dance artists of all ages, career stages, and styles are welcome to apply.

Please tell us as much as you can about your proposed dance performance or workshop. *Deadline for submissions is June 1st, EXTENDED TO JUNE 5 2023

**APPLY HERE **

Questions? Email us at info@londondancefestival.ca OR learn more here.

PLEASE NOTE: We have a smaller budget again this year and are unable to offer full CADA rates for pieces with more than two professional artists. We are also unable to provide travel or accommodation for artists outside of London this year. If this is a barrier for you, please check back next year!

Call for Dancers

CMA Director Bizz Varty is looking to hire local dancers for upcoming gigs with London Arts Live. Performances will take place at various times and locations throughout the summer.

Dancers of all styles are encouraged to apply, and selected artists will be paid $50/hour. The performances will involve a lot of improvisation. Dancers must be comfortable dancing outdoors on a concrete surface (with shoes) and must be 18 or older. 

Interested? Email londondancefestival@gmail.com

2022 Dance Mob

The annual dance mob is a fun & easy dance that anyone can do! Learn the moves in one of our workshops, then join us on stage for a performance. This year’s event will feature a live performance of Asante’s song “Diagonal”. FREE but donations are gratefully accepted!

Thursday, June 30 – Dundas Place
7:30-8:30pm – Dance Mob Workshop with Zola Ncube (Jubilee Square at Talbot & King)
8:30-9pm – Performance (Dundas & Talbot)

Saturday, July 2 – Ivey Park, 331 Thames St.
5pm – Dance Mob Workshop with Jesselle Paguergan
6pm – Live Performance

Meet the 2022 Dance Mob Choreographers

Zola Ncube by Lighthouse Photography

Nokuzola Ncube
I am an academic and creative. Academically, I am interested in mental health services and intimate partner violence during COVID-19. I am currently completing my MSc. examining the intersection of the aforementioned topics while also pursuing other interesting topics such as kindness, aging, and women’s health. Creatively, my dance career has taken me from all over Ontario, to Zimbabwe and back over the course of 12+ years.  Between using dance as an empowerment tool through the Sexual Assault Centre of London (renamed ‘ANOVA’), performing at National Basketball League games, winning national dance awards, and choreographing for international music videos–  one question has led my artistry: “What story am I telling?”. As a hip-hop and contemporary dance instructor, I encourage my students to answer that question through their movements. Sometimes the answer is closer to “none Miss Zola, I’m not telling a story– I’m just existing” – and that’s okay too.  As an academic and creative, I believe dance has the ability to heal, communicate and bridge seemingly disparate worlds. 

Jesselle Paguergan


I have been dancing for almost 4 months with O.N.E centre and I am on the competitive dance team! I am currently working in St. Thomas as a nursing student and doing part-time school. I love dancing and meeting so many people. I am happy that I started dancing now when I couldn’t as a child. I will continue dancing and learn new skills from amazing dancers.

Asante is no stranger to the London music scene. Asante has just completed Fanshawe College’s Music Industry Arts program and is ready to apply his knowledge to his career. The sounds of this extraordinary young artist range from Pop to RnB.   Asante recently won Best Artist at the Essence and Culture Awards and was nominated twice at the  Forest City London Music Awards for the Fan Favorite award and Best Pop award. Asante’s performances are high-energy and family-friendly. The music of Asante can be found on all streaming platforms!  His website is www.asantemusic.net. The future King of Melodies has a bright future!

Thanks to London Arts Live for supporting Asante’s performance!

Giveaway: Win $50 downtown dollars to spend at your favourite store!

**GIVEAWAY ALERT**
We’re excited to partner with Downtown London for a giveaway! Five lucky winners will receive a $50 gift card to spend in-store, or online at our city’s core businesses.

🥇Here’s how to win:
1. Find this post and click LIKE on Facebook or Instagram.
2. FOLLOW Downtown London and London Dance Festival on Facebook or Instagram
3. TAG two friends in the comments section below
4. and most importantly ATTEND one of our workshops on Saturday, July 2 from 4-6pm or the Live Performance at 6pm in Ivey Park. You’ll receive an automatic entry when you attend the event! Make sure to register so we know you’re there 🙂

💡BONUS: Repost or Share once on your feed! 
*Winners will be announced Saturday, July 9*

The Countdown is ON! LDF 2022

Celebrate the art of dance with the London Dance Festival. We’ve got something for everyone! See London’s talented dance artists perform on two stages in the great outdoors, plus workshops for all levels, opportunities for the public to engage with interactive exhibits and perform on our stage, and a family-friendly dance party! 

Performances by London dance artists including Ukwehuwe Connection, Rising Moon Bellydance, La Compagnie de Danse, Flamenco del Sur, Isabella Di Liello, Nicolas Noguera and local studios, accompanied by live music by Asante and Light of the East Ensemble.

All events are FREE (but donations are gratefully accepted!) Register here: http://londondancefestival.ca/2022-festival

LDF 2022 – Volunteers Needed!

If you are looking to volunteer for a couple of hours, but also have fun while helping those in the community, then we have a spot for you!

The London Dance Festival is a great opportunity to experience outdoor performances and support local talent. Help us deliver enjoyment for all. Sign up now! (Deadline: Saturday, June 25)

We welcome volunteers of all ages. All volunteer hours can be put towards the Ontario Secondary School community service requirement, a volunteer reference letter, or both upon request. Learn more here.